TAKE it as red – and black – the League of Ireland title race is not over because of Bohemians.
The third Dublin derby of the season between Bohs and league leaders Shamrock Rovers went, for the third time, in the Gypsies favour as they deservedly took all three points.
Having won 1-0 at the Aviva, and an amazing come from behind win in Tallaght last time out, this one was as easy as a 2-0 win can be, as Dayle Rooney and James Clarke scored.
And without Bohs routinely beating the Hoops, the title race would already be as good as over.
Rovers now lead Drogheda United by eight points, but Bohemians are just a point off that and have two games in hand, and another Dublin Derby in September.
The Gypsies are still playing catch-up after their own poor start to the season.
But whatever it is, Bohs are Rovers’ kryptonite in a season when the Hoops have lost just one other game.
Monday night saw the home side start fast and never look back with their free form attack with no recognised striker tore the Hoops to shreds early on.
They were in front after just two minutes.
Jordan Flores clipped the ball forward from midfield where it looked as if Rovers’ Roberto Lopes was in control but he seemed to misjudge where the ball was going.
And as he tried to readjust, Clarke raced beyond him and was able to flick the ball away from Lee Grace in-field.
And there was Rooney standing near the penalty spot who was never going to pass up such a gilt-edged opportunity.
Bohs were flying, the home fans in the Jodi Stand were in full voice, and the Hoops’ were struggling and complaining to referee Kevin O’Sullivan.
Ross Tierney not retreating 10 yards seemed to be an issue but Rovers’ bigger problems was Bohs being in their faces in open play and causing problems.
John Mountney fizzed a shot over the bar from distance after a brilliant flowing move from one box to the other involving Tierney, Dawson Devoy, Rooney and Clarke.
And it was goal scorer Rooney that was central to so much whether holding the ball up and laying it off, for dribbling beyond players on the right flank.
So it was no surprise when he was central to Bohs second goal five minutes before half-time.
He was involved in a throw-in and dribbed in-field before then back heeling the ball to Tierney as he raced into the penalty area from the right.
The midfielder still had work to do but stayed cool and then fired a low cross into the six-yard box as Clarke arrived late to scramble over the line.
After such a high tempo first half, it was perhaps no surprise that Rovers – who made three quick subs after half time – had more of the game in the second half.
But chances were few and far between with Michael Noonan almost getting on the end of a Jack Byrne cross hearly in the half and Dylan Watts forcing Chorazka into a save.
And Bohs still carried a threat too with Lopes clearing off the line from Devoy after good work by Clarke on 73 minutes.
They had a further chance late on when Flores free kick was saved by Ed McGinty while Rovers’ kept pushing until the final moments.
But they never looked like getting the goal to make it nervous, as Bohs fans sang ‘It’s happened again’.
SUN STAR MAN
Dayle Rooney (Bohemians)
BOHEMIANS: Chorazka 7; Morahan 8, Cornwall 7; Flores 8; Smith 7, Devoy 8, Mountney 7; Rooney 9, Tierney 8, McDonnell 7 (Buckley 64, 6); Clarke 7.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: McGinty 5; Cleary 5 (Ozhianvuna 81, 5), Lopes 5, Grace 5 (Kovalevskis 87, 5); Grant 5, Healy 5, McEneff 4 (Mandroiu 53, 5), Honohan 5; Byrne 5 (Watts 53, 6), Burke 6; Greene 4 (Noonan ht, 6).
REFEREE: K O’Sullivan (Cork) 4.
